The NBA on Wednesday announced that it will institute a new anti-flopping policy for the 2012-13 season designed to stop players from "flopping" in games. According to the rule, a flop will be considered "any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player."

Legitimate plays, such as when a player moves to a spot on the floor to draw an offensive foul, and minor physical reactions to contact, will not be treated as flops. But, when a player tries to dupe an official into a bad call, there will be consequences. And for serial floppers, the consequences will be stiff.

A first-time offender will receive a warning. The second violation will result in a $5,000 fine. The penalties increase from there, with a five-time flopper earning a hefty $30,000 fine. If a player violates the anti-flopping rule six or more times, the discipline will be even harsher, carrying a larger fine and possibly a suspension.

The reaction from Trail Blazers practice Wednesday was predominantly supportive.

"I think it's for the good of the game," coach Terry Stotts said. "The referees have a tough enough job refereeing a very difficult sport to referee. When the sole intent is to embarrass or show a referee up, I think that will make their job a little bit easier, and I think it's for the good of the game."

Blazers players praised the anti-flopping rule, saying it will clean up the sport. One of the leading cheerleaders was small forward Nicolas Batum, who earned international scrutiny in the Summer Olympics for his crotch punch on Juan Carlos Navarro in response to what Batum perceived to be flopping by the Spanish National Team.

"It's going to clean up the game a little bit," Batum said. "Everybody flops sometimes and if this cleans up the game, that's great."

The league has featured a healthy dose of notorious floppers over the years and every team features scouting reports that, in part, detail who flops. When asked to reveal today's serial offenders, Batum acknowledged that Fernandez, the former Blazers forward, and Ginobili, the Spurs guard, are two of the most well known.

"I flop sometimes," he said, smiling. "Well, I don't say I flop. Me, I exaggerate sometimes. I want it to stop though."

There are questions about how the league will interpret a flop from a non-flop. And there will be kinks to iron out.

A flop will be administered after the fact, when league officials review game film, and fines will be handed out based on video evidence. According to the league, the primary factor in judging a flop is whether a player's "physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact."

There could be a lot of gray in the interpretation of a black-and-white rule. And the National Basketball Player's Association has taken exception to that gray. A few hours after the NBA announced its anti-flopping rule, the NBPA said it would file a grievance and unfair labor practice charge.

"I just think it's going to be tough (to call)," Blazers guard Wesley Matthews said. "I don't know how they are going to do it. Even with video, you can still debate calls. But I like the idea of it. I like that it will be in player's minds."

But it seems likely the rule will stick and players will have to adjust. And Batum, for one, says the transition won't be hard for the majority of the league -- including himself.

"No," Batum said, when asked if it would be tough to mentally adjust. "Especially for me with what happened in the Olympics."